When you open File Explorer in Windows 10, it defaults to a new Quick Access view that shows your most frequently accessed folders and recently viewed files. I love it, personally, but if you’d rather File Explorer defaulted to the “This PC” view found in Windows 8, here’s how.

This is wonderful. If you’ve got pending updates that require you to reboot your PC,

Windows 10 will allow you to schedule a specific time for it to do so.

Open the Settings option in the Start menu, then head to Updates and Recovery >

Windows Update. If you have an update pending, you’ll see a screen which lets you schedule your reboot after you select the “Select a restart time” radio button. Even better, you can dive into the Advanced options and link and ask Windows to notify you to schedule a reboot whenever updates are ready to rock.

Command Prompt tools

Windows 10 packs a slew of nifty new command line features, including the ability to copy and paste inside the command prompt with Crtl + C and Crtl + V.

To activate the goodies, open the command prompt. Right‐click its title bar, then select

Properties. You can find and enable the new features under the “Edit Options” section of the Options tab

Record a video of an app

Windows 10’s new Game DVR function is supposed to be used for recording video evidence of your most glorious gaming moments, but it’ll actually let you create videos of any open app or desktop software (though not OS‐level areas like File Explorer or the desktop).

To summon it, simply press Windows key + G. A prompt will ask you if you want to open the Game bar. Lie your butt off and click the “Yes, this is a game box” and various options will appear in a floating bar. Simply click the circular Record button to capture a video. You can find your saved videos in the Game DVR section of the Xbox app, or inside your user folder under Video > Captures.

Get rid of the old stuff

When you upgrade to Windows 10 over an existing Windows 7 or 8 installation, it keeps a copy of your old operating system around in a folder dubbed Windows.old just case you need to revert back for any reason. If you know you’re never going back you can delete that folder to reclaim the lost gigabytes—but it’s not as simple as right‐clicking on it and selecting Delete.

Search for “Disk Cleanup“. Click the shortcut, select your primary hard drive (if you have multiple installed), and in the window that appears, click “Clean up system files.” After

Windows thinks for a second, check the “Previous Windows installations” box in the list, then click OK and confirm you want to delete the files.

Manage your notifications

System‐wide notifications were a highlight feature for Windows Store apps in Windows 8, and Windows 10’s new Action Center lets you actually manage them, making notifications useful rather than one‐off shouts into the wind.

You might not want every Windows Store app you install barking at you all the time, however, or maybe you don’t want to see any notifications while you’re in presentation mode. To tinker with you your notification settings, head to Start menu > Settings > Systems > Notifications and actions. Individual Windows Store apps tend to have more granular notification options in the Settings menus inside the apps themselves.

Disable W‐Fi Sense

WiFi Sense will automatically connect you to detected crowdsourced WiFi networks, acquire network information and provide “additional info” to networks that require it (it’s not clear exactly what constitutes additional info), and can be used to automatically share your WiFi password with your contacts on Facebook, Skype, and Outlook.

That last feature is the potentially controversial one. WiFi Sense is enabled by default in Build 10240 of Windows 10; if you choose “Express Settings,” Microsoft enables the option and allows your device to acquire WiFi passwords from friends and shares your password with the same group of people. If you choose to leave the function enabled (or turn it on manually, as shown below), it will request permission to connect to Outlook, Skype, and Facebook on your behalf. Other users on your friends list who also run Windows 10 will have their contact information shared with you as well, assuming they also enable the feature.

Keyboard shortcuts

Here are some keyboard shortcuts you may want to be aware of — ones that will really help your daily workflow:

Windows Key‐Tab (Task View)

Windows Key‐Right‐Up (Moves app to top right quadrant)

Windows Key‐Ctrl‐Left or Right (virtual desktop)

Windows Key‐Ctrl‐D (new virtual desktop)

Windows Key‐Ctrl‐C (Cortana listening)

Windows Key‐S (Daily Glance for weather, news, sports)

Windows Key‐Ctrl‐F4 (closes virtual desktop)

Windows Key‐Up and Down (snap apps to top or bottom of screen or maximizes)